Decalcomania with removable lacquer coating

ABSTRACT

A decalcomania which gives the impression of direct printing on a substrate is based on the use of a pigmented insoluble resin which hardens by means other than solvent evaporation. The imprint or decoration is protected during handling by a lacquer mask which can be stripped from the imprint due to the fact that the resin is insoluble in the solvent from which the lacquer is deposited.

United States Patent -1191 Khlge et al.

1451 Aug. 19, 1975 DECALCOMANIA WITH REMOVABLE 3,385,748 Neale et a1 161/4 3,489,587 1/1970 Weingrad 1 17/3.6 3,516,842 6/1970 Klinker, .11". et a1... 161/406 [75] Inventors: Karl-Heinz Klug Mam fr 3,708,320 1 1973 Hurst et a1. 117/33 Eppich, Zirndorf, both of Germany [73] Assignee: F. Xavier Leipold, Zirndorf, Primary Examiner-Mayer Weinblatt Germany Assistant ExaminerEdith R. Buffalow Attorney, Agent, or F irmBlum Moscovitz Friedman [22] F11ed: Dec. 20, 1972 & Kaplan [21] Appl. No.: 317,036

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 428/40; 428/174; 428/343; A decalcomania which gives the impression of direct Int Cl 2 printing on a substrztte is based on the use of a pig- O t mented nsoluble resln whlch hardens means other [58] Field of Search 161/6, 406, 406 T, than Sol-Vent evaporation The imprint or decoration is 117/35 156/230 240 protected during handling by a lacquer mask which can be stripped from the imprint due to the fact that [56] References C'ted the resin is insoluble in the solvent from which the lac- UNITED STATES- PATENTS quer i deposited 3,065,120 11/1962 Avelar 161/406 T 3,294,611 12/1966 Vomela 161/406 6 Clam, 1 Drawmg 1 DECALCOMANIA WITH REMOVABLE LACQUER COATING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Decalcomania pictures or so-called slide-off pictures have been used for decorating and labelling a wide variety of articles, both for home use and for industrial use. The application of the original type of decalcomanias involved a wetting stage for removal of a paper base on which the imprint was deposited. The terms imprint, inscription, indicia, decorations and pictures will be used interchangeably. Recently, selfsealing pictures or printed self-sealing foils have been developed. These self-sealing decalcomanias do not require the use of water for removal of a base.

The usual decalcomania pictures or slide-off pictures are printed on a special paper which is penetratable by water and which is provided with adextrin or glue coating. After completion of the print, a lacquer, termed a lacquer mask" is deposited over the picture. The function of the lacquer is to hold the picture or imprint together while the base or substrate on which the imprint has been deposited, is removed. The usual procedure is to moisten the decalcomania, bring it up to the article to be decorated, such as a bicycle frame, and slide over the picture, pressing it solidly with a rubber wiper or rubber roller to the article to be decorated. The dextrin or glue on the bottom of the imprint holds the decalcomania firmly to the substrate after drying is completed. This procedure is used with a great many articles of daily and industrial use for decoration on the one hand and for providing information such as operating instructions, the name of the manufacturer, the model number, etc.

In usingthe aforenoted self-sealing pictures or foils, the operator need only strip off the protective'paper from under the imprint and then press the imprint onto the article, taking care that the face of the imprint carrying adhesive is toward the article. Subsequently, the carrier paper is removed in the case of self-sealing pictures, while theself-sealing foils do not require any further treatment. The advantage of this type of decalcomania lies in the fact that no wetting is required as is the case with the sliding pictures. However, the manufacture and storage of self-sealing pictures is more difficult, due to the fact that a variety of reactions may occur between the lacquer materials, the printing colors, the adhesive, the wax-coated carrier paper and the siliconized cover paper. Further, the material and labor expenses are much greater than is the case with the sliding pictures. 5

With both types of imprints or pictures, it has been necessary to cover the decalcomania with a lacquer mask as aforenoted. The primary purpose of the lacquer mask is to hold the picture or inscription together during the transfer to the article to be treated. Unfortunately, the lacquer mask adds perceptible thickness to the inscriptionfThis can be clearly seen when the inscription is observed from the edge. The mask can also be seen even if the inscription is covered with a finish ing varnish sincethere will be a perceptible change in level at the edge of the mask. A further objection to the use of a lacquer mask is that it has its own characteristic degree of glossiness or reflection which may differ substantially from that of the article which is imprinted, and this difference frequently may be objectionable.

Unfortunately, with the type of colors presently in use, it is impossible to strip the mask from the imprint once it is deposited on the article to be labelled or de' corated. The reason is that the solvent from the lacquer mask mixes'with the color carrier, and may, in fact, partly dissolve some of the colors, so that the mask cahnot be removed without simultaneously damaging the imprint.

' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The decalcomania of the present invention includes a paper base permeable to water, the base being covered with a layer of dextrin or other glue, an adhesive pigmented insoluble resin imprint on the paper and a lacquer mask over the imprint. The insoluble resin imprint is formed from any of the two-component resins such as epoxy,- polyester-styrene, or polyurethanes. Once the paper has been wetted, and the imprint has been transferred to the item intended to be decorated, the lacquer mask can be peeled or stripped from the imprint. The reason why the mask can be readily removed is that the two-component resin is completely insoluble in any of the lacquer solvents as the result of which adhesion between the mask and the imprint is weak.

It should be noted that the imprint consisting of a pigmented insoluble resin and a lacquer mask which can be readily stripped therefrom can also be used in combination with a carrier such as foil.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved decalcomania from which the customary lacquer mask necessary during storage and application of the decalcomania can readily be removed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved decalcomania wherein the-imprint is an insoluble, pigmented resin. An important object of the present invention provide an improved decalcomania in whichthe imprint is the product of the reaction of a two-component resin, said product being insoluble. -Yet another object of the present invention-is to provide an improved method of preparation of a decalcomania from which the lacquer mask necessary during storage and application can readily be removed.

Still other objects and advantages-of the invention will in part be obvious and will the specification. 1

The invention accordingly comprisesthe several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others, and the article possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements,

which are exemplified in the following detailed disclothe invention will be indicated sure, and the scope of inthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference proved decalcomania in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A decalcomania in accordance with the present inis to in part be apparent from V vention is shown in the single FIGURE wherein a paper 1 permeable to water is coated on its upper surface with a layer of dextrin or glue 2 and an imprint 3 on the glue 2 consists of an insoluble resin. The resin may be an epoxy, a polyurethane or a polyester, each of them being the product of the interaction of two components. At least one of the two components has pigments therein. The imprint is preferably deposited by screenprinting. It may be necessary to use solvent in the composition to be imprinted to facilitate the screen-printing process. In general, materials with apot-lifc of two to four hours are preferred as the resin. During the hardening process, the solvent evaporates, but the actual hardening is the result of the interaction of the two resin components.

After the imprint 3 has hardened, a lacquer mask 4 is deposited over the imprint and over such portions of the glue layer as are not coated with resin. The mask is deposited by conventional means such as spraying, dipping or doctor-'blading. The glue layer 2 is deposited on the paper I by conventional means such as are now widely practiced in the decalcomania industry.

Following is an Example of the method by which a decalcomania in accordance with the present invention is prepared.

EXAMPLE 1 A standard paper, permeable to water, is covered with a layer of glue or dextrin. A resin composition consisting of two parts of epoxy and one part of hardener is mixed with-enough pigment to give the desired color. Depending on the viscosity of the material, enough solvent is added so that the resin can be screenprinted onto the glue layer. Where desired, several compositions including pigments of a variety of colors may be pre'pared for successive application to the same decalcomania.

The imprint applied by screen-printing is allowed to stand fora periodjat room temperature during which the two components of the system react with each other and the residual solvent evaporates. The hardening process can be accelerated by gentle warming. After hardening, the'decalcomania is covered with a lacquer having the following composition:

45 parts by weight butyl methacrylate 55 parts by weight solvent.

The preferred solvent for use with-butyl methacrylate is an aromatic compound such as benzene. However, aromatic solventsQaliphatic solvents, alcohols, esters, ketones and mixtures of these solvents may be used, depending on the material used for the lacquer. Examples of other materials suitable for the lacquer mask are cellulose acetate, cellulose acetobutyrate and cellulose nitrate and acrylics other than butyl methacrylate. Where desired, a plasticizer compatible with the particular resin used as the basis for the lacquer may be included in the lacquer composition.

To apply the finished decalcomania to an article, the

carrier paper is'wet until the imprint can be slid off the' carrier and transferred to the article to be decorated or labelled. Since the imprint may consist of a plurality of portions, it is evident that some means must be provided to hold the portions together in the desired spacial relationship. This function is carried out byithe lacquer mask. The imprint is then pressed onto the article tobe decorated or labelled by means ofa rubber roller or rubber wiper. Once the adhesive transferred with the imprint has hardened, the lacquer mask is peeled or stripped off from the imprint. If desired, a lacquer or varnish may then be applied to the article and to the imprint. In the absence of the lacquer mask which has been removed, the coating applied over the article and over the imprint will appear to be essentially smooth, level and continuous. Either with or without a coating applied over the article and the imprint, the imprint gives the impression of having been printed on the article. 1

The same results can be obtained by depositing the imprint on a foil coated with an adhesive such as a silicone and then covering with a removable lacquer mask.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in carrying out the above method and in the article set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

it is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

l. A decalcomania suitable for the decoration or labelling of articles, comprising a carrier, an adhesive layer on one face of said carrier, an inscription of a pig ment-containing insoluble resin on said adhesive, and a lacquer mask over said inscription, said carrier being so bonded to said adhesive layer as to be readily removable from same immediately prior to application of said inseriptionto an article, and said lacquer mask being readily removable from said inscription subsequent to application of same to said article by reason of the fact that said insoluble resin of said inscription is unattacked by the solvent from which said lacquer is applied.

2. A decalcomania as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier is water-permeable and said adhesive is selected from the group consisting of dextrin and glue, thereby making said carrier readily removable by wetting with water.

3. A decalcomania as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier is a foil and said adhesive is a silicone.

4. A decalcomania as defined in claim 1, wherein said insoluble resin is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester-styrene addition product and epoxy.

5. A decalcomania as defined in claim 1, wherein said lacquer mask contains a resin selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetobutyrate, butyl methacrylate and other acrylic resins.

6. A decalcomania as defined in claims, wherein said lacquer mask contains a plasticizer which is a solvent 

1. A DECOLCOMANIA SUITABLE FOR THE DECORATION OR LABELLING OF ARTICLES, COMPRISING A CARRIER, AN ADHESIVE LAYER ON ONE FACE OF SAID CARRIER, AN INSCRIPTION OF A PIGMENT-CONTAINING INSOLUBLE RESIN ON SAID ADHESIVE, AND A LACQUER MASK OVER SAID INSCRIPTION, SAID CARRIER BEING SO BONDED TO SAID ADHESIVE LAYER AS TO BE READILY REMOVABLE FROM SAME IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO APPLICATION OF SAID INSCRIPTION TO AN ARTICLE, AND SAID LACQUER MASK BEING READILY REMOVABLE FROM SAID INSCRIPTION SUBSEQUENT TO APPLICATION OF SAME TO SAID ARTICLE BY REASON OF THE
 2. A decalcomania as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier is water-permeable and said adhesive is selected from the group consisting of dextrin and glue, thereby making said carrier readily removable by wetting with water.
 3. A decalcomania as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier is a foil and said adhesive is a silicone.
 4. A decalcomania as defined in claim 1, wherein said insoluble resin is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester-styrene addition product and epoxy.
 5. A decalcomania as defined in claim 1, wherein said lacquer mask contains a resin selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetobutyrate, butyl methacrylate and other acrylic resins.
 6. A decalcomania as defined in claim 5, wherein said lacquer mask contains a plasticizer which is a solvent for said resin. 